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+# Testcontainers Java
+Testcontainers Java is a library that supports JUnit tests by providing lightweight, throwaway instances of common databases, Selenium web browsers, or anything else that can run in a Docker container. This is a Gradle-based Java project with over 60 container modules and comprehensive testing infrastructure.
+
+Always reference these instructions first and fallback to search or bash commands only when you encounter unexpected information that does not match the info here.
+
+## Working Effectively
+
+### Prerequisites
+- Java 17+ (JDK 17 is the primary development JDK)
+- Docker Engine running and accessible
+- Gradle 8.14+ (via ./gradlew wrapper)
+
+### Bootstrap, Build, and Test the Repository
+- **Compilation**: `./gradlew :testcontainers:compileJava` -- Core module compilation takes ~30 seconds
+- **Core Module Build**: `./gradlew :testcontainers:compileTestJava` -- Test compilation takes ~30 seconds  
+- **Single Test Run**: `./gradlew :testcontainers:test --tests "*GenericContainerTest*" --no-daemon` -- Takes ~1 minute. NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 5+ minutes.
+- **Example Project Test**: `./gradlew :docs:examples:junit5:redis:test --no-daemon` -- Takes ~25 seconds. NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 3+ minutes.
+- **Module-Specific Build**: `./gradlew :testcontainers-postgresql:check --no-daemon` (example for postgresql module) -- Each module build takes 2-15 minutes. NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 30+ minutes.
+- **Full Build**: `./gradlew check` -- Takes 45+ minutes. NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 90+ minutes.
+
+### Known Build Issues and Workarounds
+- **Spotless Formatter Network Issue**: The `spotlessCheck` task may fail with `java.net.UnknownHostException: groovy.jfrog.io`. This is a network connectivity issue in some environments. Workaround: Use compilation and test tasks that avoid spotless, or run with `--continue` to skip failing formatter tasks.
+- **Build Cache Failures**: Remote build cache may be unavailable (`Loading entry from 'https://ge.testcontainers.org/cache/...' failed`). This is expected and doesn't affect build success.
+
+### Format and Lint
+- **Apply Code Formatting**: `./gradlew spotlessApply` -- Requires Node.js to be installed. May fail due to network issues (see Known Issues above).
+- **Check Formatting**: `./gradlew spotlessCheck` -- May fail due to network connectivity to groovy.jfrog.io
+- **Checkstyle**: Automatically runs as part of `check` task using config/checkstyle/checkstyle.xml
+
+## Validation and Testing
+
+### Manual Testing Scenarios
+- **ALWAYS run end-to-end scenarios** after making changes to core functionality
+- **Test Container Lifecycle**: Run any test that starts/stops containers (e.g., RedisBackedCacheIntTest) to verify Docker integration
+- **Module-Specific Testing**: When modifying a specific module, run `./gradlew :testcontainers-postgresql:test` (example for postgresql module) to verify module functionality
+- **Example Verification**: Test examples in `docs/examples/` to ensure documentation code works: `./gradlew :docs:examples:junit5:redis:test`
+
+### Test Execution Patterns
+- Tests use Docker containers heavily - ensure Docker daemon is running
+- Most tests follow JUnit 5 + @Testcontainers pattern
+- Container modules are in `modules/` directory, each with their own test suites
+- Core functionality tests are in `core/src/test/java/org/testcontainers/`
+
+### CI Build Requirements
+- **ALWAYS run** `./gradlew check` before committing (when network allows)
+- **Required Java versions**: Tests run on Java 17 and 21 in CI
+- **Docker dependency**: All tests require Docker runtime
+
+## Repository Structure and Navigation
+
+### Key Directories
+- **`core/`** - Main testcontainers library code (:testcontainers project)
+- **`modules/`** - 60+ container-specific modules (e.g., :testcontainers-postgresql, :testcontainers-kafka, :testcontainers-mysql)
+- **`docs/examples/`** - Working code examples for documentation
+- **`examples/`** - Standalone example projects (separate from docs)
+- **`buildSrc/`** - Custom Gradle build logic
+- **`.github/workflows/`** - CI/CD pipeline definitions
+
+### Core Module Structure
+```
+core/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/
+├── containers/           # Container implementations
+├── images/              # Image building and management
+├── utility/             # Utility classes
+└── DockerClientFactory.java  # Docker client management
+```
+
+### Module Structure (e.g., modules/postgresql/)
+```
+modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/containers/
+└── PostgreSQLContainer.java  # Container-specific implementations
+```
+
+### Important Files
+- **`build.gradle`** - Root build configuration
+- **`settings.gradle`** - Multi-project build settings
+- **`gradle.properties`** - Build properties (testcontainers.version=1.21.3)
+- **`CONTRIBUTING.md`** - Comprehensive contribution guidelines
+
+## Common Tasks and Patterns
+
+### Adding a New Module
+- Follow checklist in `docs/contributing.md`
+- Create new directory in `modules/[name]/`
+- Add to `settings.gradle` automatically via `file('modules').eachDir` pattern
+- Implement container class extending appropriate base class
+- Add comprehensive tests following existing patterns
+
+### Running Specific Tests
+- **Single test class**: `./gradlew :testcontainers:test --tests "ClassNameTest"`
+- **Package tests**: `./gradlew :testcontainers:test --tests "org.testcontainers.containers.*"`
+- **Module tests**: `./gradlew :testcontainers-postgresql:test` (example for postgresql module)
+
+### Working with Examples
+- Examples use project dependencies on core testcontainers
+- Run from root: `./gradlew :docs:examples:junit5:redis:test`
+- Examples demonstrate real-world usage patterns
+
+### Container Development Patterns
+- Extend `GenericContainer<SELF>` for basic containers
+- Extend `JdbcDatabaseContainer` for database containers  
+- Use `@Testcontainers` + `@Container` annotations in tests
+- Implement proper wait strategies for container readiness
+
+## Docker and Environment Requirements
+
+### Docker Environment
+- Docker must be running and accessible to current user
+- Tests will pull container images as needed (e.g., redis:6-alpine)
+- Some tests require specific Docker features (e.g., networking, volumes)
+
+### Performance Considerations
+- **First run**: Takes longer due to Docker image pulls
+- **Subsequent runs**: Faster with local image cache
+- **Parallel execution**: Gradle parallel execution is disabled by default (`org.gradle.parallel=false`)
+
+## Troubleshooting Common Issues
+
+### Build Failures
+- **"groovy.jfrog.io: No address associated with hostname"**: Network issue with spotless formatter, use compilation tasks instead
+- **Docker daemon not accessible**: Ensure Docker is running and user has permissions
+- **Out of memory**: Increase heap with `export GRADLE_OPTS="-Xmx4g"`
+
+### Test Failures
+- **Container startup timeout**: May indicate Docker resource constraints
+- **Port binding issues**: Usually resolves on retry, or indicates port conflicts
+- **Image pull failures**: Check Docker Hub connectivity
+
+### Development Environment
+- **Java version**: Use Java 17+ (project requires Java 17 toolchain)
+- **IDE setup**: Project uses Lombok - ensure annotation processing is enabled
+- **Git hooks**: Auto-applied via `captainHook` plugin for formatting
+
+Always test your changes with Docker containers running to ensure full integration testing.
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